Folding table



.June l5 1926. 1,588,759

F. C. LEWIS FOLDING TABLE Filed Dec. 20. 1925 WITNEssEs INI/ENTOR 2002 ini. I CLeu/Qi I *PZu v IL//-M/Q ATTORNEYS Patented `lune 15, 1926.

l Unirse STATES FRANKLIN C. LEWIS, OF NEW YORK, Y.

FOLDING- TABLE.

Application l'ed December 20, 1923. Serial No. 681,833.

rlhis invention relates to folding tables and is more particularly directed to the type of table described and claimed in my co pending application, filed J une 11, 1928, Serial No. 644,764.

An object of the invention is the provision of a table which is adapted to be foldedin a compact unitary structure and stored in a small space when not in use. Y

A further object of the invention is the provision of a foldable frame provided with legs and hinged means for a table top which permits the top to be located in a plurality of different positions either when the frame is extended or folded.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a foldable frame adapted for supporting a table top and in which a link connects the members of the frame and permits them tobe swung into folded position or locked in extended relation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a foldable table having an oscillating table top and an oscillating pocket carrying` a drawer, the top and pocket being adapted to be folded with the frame for forming a compact and unitary structure.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description in view of the accompany* ing drawings forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes V and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a foldable table constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view partly in section of the table in the process of being folded into a compact and unitary structure.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in vertical section showing a detailed construct-ion of the hinging mechanism of the table top.

Figure 5 is a vertical section showing the table in the process of being folded.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates the legs of a supporting frame of a table. The pairs of legs are rigidly connected by either of the side members 2 and 3. An end member 4 of the frame is hingedly connected to the inner face of the rear member 2, as shown at 5, whereby said end member may be oscillated at its pivotal connection with the front member and placed in face to face engagement with said member.

A rod or link 6 is pivotally connected at 7 to a point on the end member 4 which is intermediate its ends. The outer end of the rod 6 is bent at right angles as shown at 8 with the outer free end of the bent extension pivotally connected at 9 to the top of the front member 3 of the frame. A second end member 4 (not shown) is hingedly connected to the other end of rear member 2 on bottom as well as top. f

The outer free ends l0 of the end members are adapted to the moved into engagement with the inner faces of the front member 3 and abut the inner face of the adjacent post 1. The rod 6 is provided with a U-shaped depressed portion 11 adapted to be seated within a notch 12 in the end member 4 when the frame is rocked in extended relation, or located within a notch 13 when the frame is folded into a'compact unitary structure. The ends of the members 4 where the same are hinged to the front element of the frame are adapted to abut the inner faces of the said members while the outer faces of the end members 4 are adapted to abut the inner faces of a pair of the posts 1 which are adjacent thehinged connections of said end members to the front member of the frame when the frame is located in supporting position for a top 14. l

It must be borne in mind that the other end member, not shown, is similar in construction to the member shown and described,'together with the connecting Vlink 6 and the respective notches 12 and 13, and is hingedly connected to the opposite end of the member 2 forming the other end of the foldable supporting frame of the table.

The top of the table is pivotally connected to the rear member 2 of the frame by means of metal straps 15 having leaves 16 and 17 f hingedly connected to the outer free ends of said straps l5. The ends of each strap are formed into a cylindrical bearing while the leaves 16 and 17 are provided with spaced cylindrical bearings adapted to receive the CIO Leaves 1G are rigidly secured v.by -niean-s-vof screws to the inner 'face of the table 14e at a suitable point, while leaves 17 are secured` in countersunk recesses in the upper ends o1 the rear member 2. n straps 15 through their hinged connections with the rear member 2 and the top el will not only permit the top to be disposed in a horizontal plane von top of the legs 1 and the correspondingv front, rear and end members, but willipermit the leaves to swing over the top ot the folded 'frame and be located in a vertical position in order to provide `a compact and unitary structure when not in use.

It will be seen that the-depressed portion 11 in thelink 6 which Ais seated in the notch 13 of the endmember 4 permits the strap 15 to rest within the depressed portion 11 when the table top is located in a vertical'position and the v'supporting traine has been folded into a compact structure. The notch 12 is provided to' permit the link G to lie flush with the top ot the end mcn'iber el when the rameis located in extended relation tor supporting the tabletop.

The linie@ while cooperating with the membersll to lool; the end vmembers in position-when the frame of the table has been extended also permits the end member l to be swung into tace to tace engagement with the rear member 2 and the front member 3 to be swunglinto tace to tace-engagement with the end members 4l. 1

The straps 15 together'with their pivoted leaves 15 and 17' not only permit the table i' are ada ated to eneaffe theouter wall of the side member 2 and maintain the leaves and the table top in a position which is to oneside ot the verticalwhen the table is being folded into a Compactstructure;

The-pocket 2O is hingedly mounted, as

shown at 21, to the lower edge of the side member 3 and is swingable downwardly and adapted to be so positioned when the table is folded.y A latch member Q2 secured to the bottom and at the rear edge of the pocket is adapted.v to engagea socket for locking the It will be seen that theY pocket 2O in a horizontal position. The side member 3 is provided with an opening 23 adapted to aline with the mouthA of the pocket and in which is adapted to be inserted adrawer '241.y The outer end 25 of the drawer, which carries a handle 26, is adapt- .ed .tolbe (moved inwardly and through the opening 23 in the side member 3 when the pocket 2O is swung toa vertical position.

lVhat l claim is:

1. yln-a folding table, a 'traine comprising side bars, legs` rigidly connected to the side bars, end bars hinged at one end toone of said bars, and a link pivotally connected with the other side bar and with the 'end bars-for permitting 'swinging movement otl the end bars to face to i'ace engagement with one otv the side bars and permitting' the other side bar to be moved into /iace to tace engagement .with the end bars, said linlclying over andin the same plane with an end bar-l when the table is either folded or in erected position. f

2. lira tolding table, a trame comprising front and rear bars, legs` rigidly connected to the opposite ends ot the `iront and rear bars, end bars hingedly connected adjacent the ends of the Vfront bar, a lrod having a right angular ,extension pivotallyf connected at the end ot' the extension to the rearbar, the other end ot the rodbeing pivotally' connected intermediate the ends ot' anend bar.

3.1K folding table comprising a trame' composed of side Vbars, legs rigidly connected to the side'bars, end bars having one end hmgedly connected to one of theside' bars, and means connecting an intermediate portion ot the end bars to the other side bar, a table top, straps provided with hinged leaves, with one `leat secured .to .one ot the side bars, Athe other leaf being secured to' the'innerA-tace of the table top.

l1. A Ytolding 'tabley comprising a :trame Acomposed ofl side ibars, legs vrigidly con-y nectedv to the sidevbarsfend bars having one end .connected toone ot the sidebars, and means` connectingl an intermediate portion top, straps provided with` hingedl leaves, with one; leaf secured to yone of the side bars, thefother leatibemg secured tothe inner .of the end bars to the other side bar, a table Y face of the tabletop, said` end bars being provided` with notches adapted to receive the straps ywhen the table is folded intoI a compact unitary structure;

5. A folding table comprising a lranie composed-ot side/bars, legs rigidly connected to the side bars, end bars having one end connectedA to one of the side bars, andy rods connecting an intermediate portion of the end bars to the other side bar, a table top, st-raps provided withv hingedv leaves, with one leaf secured to one ot the side bars, the other leaf being secured to the inner tace of the Atable top, the end bars being pro- Aci vided with notches and said connecting rods being provided with a depressed portion adapted to he seated within the notches in the end bars, said straps adapted to he located within the notches in the depressed portion of the rods when the table is folded into a compact unitary structure.

6. A folding table comprising a frame including legs, a table top, straps provided with leaves hingedly connected to the ends of the straps, the corresponding leaves connected to the adjacent ends of the straps hcing secured to the inner face of the top, the other leaves being secured to the frame whereby said top ma7 be adjusted through a plurality of different positions.

7. A folding table comprising a frame composed of side bars, legs rigidly1 connected to the side bars, end hars having one end hingedly connected to one of the side hars, and means connecting an intermediate portion of the end hars to the other side bar, a table top, straps provided with hinged leaves7 with one leaf secured to one of the side bars; the other leaf being secured to the inner face of the table top, said straps being provided with an extension adapted to engage the side bars of the table for maintaining the top in a substantially vertical 'l position when the table is being folded.

8. In a folding table, a frame comprising side bars, legs rigidly connected to the side hars, end hars hinged at one end to one of said hars, and a link pivotallypconneeted with the other side har and with the end bars for permitting swinging movement of the end bars to face to face engagement with one of the side hars and permitting the other side har to be moved into face to face engagement with the end hars, a pocket hingedly connected to one of the side hars and swingable to a horizontal or vertical plane, a keeper for locking the other end of the pocket to the other side bar.

9. In a folding table, a frame comprising side bars, legs rigidl7 connected to the side hars, end hars hinged at one end to one of said hars, and a link pivotally connected with the other side bar and with the end hars for permitting swinging movement of the end hars to face to face engagenre-nt with one of the side hars and permitting the other side har to be moved into face to face engagement with the end bars, a pocket hingedly connected to one of the side bars and swingahle to a horizontal or vertical plane, a keeper for locking the other end of the pocket to the other side har, the first mentioned side har having an opening, a drawer insertahle through the opening and carried by the pocket.

10. In a folding table, a frameincluding side and end bars and legs supporting the side hars, the end bars being hinged at one end to one of the side bars, links for connecting the end hars with the other side har, a drawer pivotally connecte-d to one of the side bars and adapted to he supported in either a horizontal or vertical position, and means for supporting the opposite ends of the drawer in a horizontal position.

FRANKLIN C. LEWIS. 

